Hey Gavin, stop calling me!
Most people agree it's irritating and invasive to get our dinners interrupted by calls from telemarketers. That's why our elected officials finally created the National Do Not Call Registry. But is it any less irksome when the disembodied robo-voice of Gavin Newsom or Bill Clinton disturbs our peace? Or when some chirpy young political volunteer wants to know who we plan to vote for in the upcoming election? After all, aren't they also invading your space to try to sell you something that you may not want?
That's why the nonprofit group Citizens for Civil Discourse have created the National Political Do Not Call Registry, which is signing up people who don't want political calls and working with candidates and political parties to respect their wishes.
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Comments (3)
Thanks for writing about us.
Regards,
Shaun Dakin
CEO and Founder
Posted by Shaun Dakin | December 11, 2007 04:07 PM
I get it. Free speech is not free to those running for office anymore or advocating or organizing citizens because it's "irritating."
Way to go, BG. You are actually suggesting that people be punished for grassroots organizing. Dick Cheney must be laughing right now at you!
BTW, this political "do not call" list is a sham. They do not give out this list to candidates without extorting a "donation" and they've only got 2000 people on their list around the entire nation. Out of MILLIONS of voters.
In other words, it's a great headline for gullible liberals, but it is of little to no use. But it's a great shakedown for some noname nonprofit! And I guess that's all that's important - not grassroots campaigns run by volunteers who can't afford millions of dollars in TV ads to reach the voters. Smart!
Posted by Joe_Stalin_Jr | December 11, 2007 07:07 PM
Joe_Stalin_Jr,
Thanks for your note. We appreciate the feedback.
1) We are not a "sham". But thanks for the input. We are incorporated in D.C. and have applied for 501 C3 status with the IRS - we did this in June and typically this takes 8-12 months to be approved. We expect to be approved.
2) Our revenue model (we need to pay expenses) is to charge candidates to license the database of voters. This is exactly what candidates do today with voter registration lists as well as purchasing additional data "overlays" from companies such as info USA.
3) We have many many more members (since we launched in late October) than you mention.
4) We are working to eliminate a great invasion of American voters privacy and homes: Political robo calls.
5) We are non-partisan. Both sides do this and both sides are wrong to do so.
6) We are not advocating a new law. Instead, we are looking to the "market" to make the decision. If enough voters say enough is enough then politicians will participate. The constitution will not allow regulations of free speech.
We hope to reduce these calls from an average of 10 to 2-3 a DAY.
Our members get about 5-9 calls a day.
Regards,
Shaun Dakin
CEO and Founder
Posted by Shaun Dakin | December 11, 2007 07:19 PM